Tillie Pierce: A Must Read Book

-->

Tillie Pierce: Teen Eyewitness to the Battle of Gettysburg is a perfect book, balancing historical scope (the Battle of Gettysburg) with an intimate narrative of a fifteen-year-old girl caught within  the three-day maelstrom of war. Anderson allows us to experience the Battle of Gettysburg through the eyes and words of  Matilda  "Tillie" Pierce, who accompanies her neighbor Hettie (whose husband is in the army) and children to escape the  imminent dangers posed by the Confederate and Union armies converging on the town. By foot they hurry from Baltimore Street to what they expect will be a safer locale, farther south of town, along the Taneytown Road, east of Little Round Top. They head to the residence of Hettie’s parents: the Weikert Farm. For those who know a little about the Gettysburg Battle, this farm was about to become a field hospital for over 700 soldiers, from both the North and South.

Anderson retells the story first written by Matilida Pierce Alleman herself  as a mature woman and published in 1889: At Gettysburg; or What a Girl Saw and Heard of the Battle.  In retelling the story, Anderson provides what “Tillie” could not: the larger historical context within which to place the personal narrative.  And she does so deftly, not only through a concise yet interesting overview of the political and social struggles between North and South but also through photographs taken from that period and side bar information on cultural customs  (like hiding a child’s shoe in the walls of a house for good luck) and current history relevant to key locations during the battle.

What is most amazing, of course, is Tillie’s specific experiences, narrated mostly by Anderson and sprinkled with direct quotes from Alleman’s own narrative (a book I intend to read immediately).   A wonderful story teller, Anderson’s account will keep you glued to the pages of this incredible story.

I highly recommend this book and can’t imagine a school library without it.

Georgia Anne Butler

New York State Monument

Last week when posting on the Soldiers' National Monument, I promised to return this week to the Gettysburg National Cemetery to look at another--the New York State Monument. 

Standing 93 feet high, this colossal monument is striking to behold.  Atop a towering granite column stands a female figure, representing the state of New York, about to place a wreath on a soldier's grave.  (I took this zoom image from directly beneath.)  In her left hand she holds a staff,  though I can't discover what balances on top the staff.  This monument is dedicated to all the sons of New York who fought in the Battle of Gettysburg, and the figure weeps for the fallen.

Of all the monuments I've seen to date, this is the most memorable. The bronze relief that circles the column depicts officers wounded or killed in battle, including Brigadier General S. H. Weed, who died defending Little Round Top, and Major General J. F. Reynolds (of Pennsylvania, one of three non-New York natives depicted in the relief), who died early on the first day of battle.

To see the monument in its entirety, I again send you to Stone Sentinels, my first stop when researching the story behind the monuments I photograph.

http://www.gettysburg.stonesentinels.com/NY/NYstate.php

Come back next week for something different, when I'll review the book Tillie Pierce: Teen Eyewitness to the Battle of Gettysburg by Tanya Anderson. 

Until then . . . Here's hoping you can soon Get with Gettysburg!

Georgia Anne

 

Soldiers National Monument

On Monday I made a quick visit to the Gettysburg National Cemetery,  final resting place for more than 3,500 Union soldiers killed in the Battle of Gettysburg. And today I'd like to share my images of the Soldiers' National Monument, located on the site believed to be where President Lincoln delivered his Gettysburg Address.  

Since moving to Gettysburg in the fall of 2011, I've visited the National Cemetery a few times, discovering something new each time.  For instance, I've seen the Soldier's National Monument but until now (with a bit of research) didn't know particulars about the monument, that is, who sculpted it, who the figures represent . . . and more.  To obtain this information, I needed to visit  only one site--Gettysburg Daily (a blog currently on hiatus).  If you want the whole story, check out the link below.

http://www.gettysburgdaily.com/?p=10987

If you've time only for a brief highlight, stay with me a moment more. 

Sculpted by Randolph Rogers (an American Neoclassical sculpture who lived mostly in Italy), the 60 foot-high monument is the lofty foothold of Liberty, who holds in her right hand the "victor's wreath of laurel." Far below her sit the embodiments of History, War, Peace, and Plenty. History, represented by the muse Clio (we met her earlier this year in my post February 12 post) writes of the heroic deeds reported to her by War, in the form of a solder.

While gracing the other side of the twenty-five foot square base are the figures of Plenty and Peace.

However, for me, the magnificence of this sculpture is humbled among the many marked and unmarked monuments to the fallen of the Battle of Gettysburg.

Check back next week for a look at another major monument in the Gettysburg National Cemetery.

Until next time . . .

Georgia Anne

Getting to Know Gettysburg, One Trail at a Time

Note:  I'm reprinting a post I made last year (about this time) to one of my other blogs--26 Years to Live.  Lucky for me I had this post in reserve; you see, the week flew by too quickly, and I didn't get out and about to bring you a new post.  But next week, I promise to be current. Ha!

When moving to Gettysburg in October, I also moved to a national park, which during the tourism season poses certain challenges, from heavy traffic to overcrowded restaurants and more. But I suspect the advantages of living among preserved battlefields, their histories revealed in countless monuments, will far outnumber the disadvantages. The picturesque landscapes alone are worth whatever inconvenience a "tourist town" entails. Add to this an infrastructure (visitor centers, museums, tours, towers, trails, etc) specifically designed to educate and enhance the visitor's experience and you'll begin to understand my mounting enthusiasm for living in Gettysburg.

Just recently I took my dog Bridget (a black lab mix) for a walk along one of the many horse trails giving access to woodlands and battlefields and, in this instance, past grazing pastures of a large farm where a pair of braying donkeys chased two llamas far afield--not something you typically see or hear. Ha! Following the trail was an adventure, full of beauty and surprises. Who knows, maybe next time, I'll actually go by horse, though I don't think Bridget would appreciate that idea.

Till next time . . . you can walk the trail Bridget and I followed through a pictorial story on my FB page, Of the Wing:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.10150526464742158.398281.96113967157&type=1

Georgia Anne

Evergreen Cemetery

The Evergreen Cemetery (established in 1854) for the community of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, derives its place in American history as the headquarters of General Oliver O. Howard of the Union Army (XI Corps).  Howard is credited with the foresight to occupy Culp's Hill, high ground east of the cemetery, where Union forces retreated before advancing Confederate troops (see my last post "123rd New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment").

Above you see the Evergreen Cemetery Gatehouse, which looks much the same as in photographs taken only days after the Battle of Gettysburg. I took this image from a side road (parallel to Baltimore Street).  The other image (zoom) I captured from the observation tower atop Culp's Hill, looking due west.  You may also find it interesting to know that Evergreen Cemetery is the resting place of "Jennie" Wade (Mary Virginia Wade), the only civilian casualty of the Battle of Gettysburg. Likewise, the cemetery holds the remains of John Burns, a 70-year-old "citizen soldier" of the battle.

So until next time . . . Here's hoping that you Get with Gettysburg!

Georgia Anne

123rd New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment

Today we go atop Culp's Hill, location of significant battles during the evening and early morning hours of July 2 and 3rd. 

The end of the first day of battle saw General Lee's Confederate forces in control, chasing a retreating Northern army. Says William A. Frassanito in his book Gettysburg: A Journey in Time:

"Approximately twenty-five hundred Northern soldiers were captured during the chaotic Union retreat through the streets of Gettysburg on the afternoon of July 1" (98). Luckily, those not captured had some place to run--to Culp's Hill, southeast of Gettysburg, a "defensive position" selected and occupied earlier "under orders from General O. O. Howard" (98). 

Well fortified, though undermanned, the Union troops were well positioned for the Confederate assault to begin around 7:30 pm on July 2. One of the regiment's protecting that hill (ultimately the North held it) was the 123rd New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment. 

Driving along a winding, scenic road, heading to the hill's crest and its observation tower, I passed this striking monument. I learned from the Web site Stone Sentinels that the woman represents the history muse Clio, writing of the heroic deeds of the 123rd. But there's much more to be learned from this site about the regiment and its battles.

http://www.gettysburg.stonesentinels.com/NY/123NY.php

While atop the observation tower, I took a photo (zoom shot) looking northwest over Gettysburg and beyond. At the time I didn't notice, but captured in this image is the Eternal Light Peace Memorial (which I posted about on January 29). See if you can locate it!

Until next time . . . Get with Gettysburg!

A Place for Poets in Gettysburg

 Thus far I've been presenting monuments of the Gettysburg Battlefield, but periodically we'll venture in town to investigate what local businesses have to offer the visitor. This week, let's take a quick look at The Ragged Edge Coffee House.

Located at 110 Chambersburg Street, this coffee house is convenient to the town center and offers a variety of pastries and sweets to enjoy with your coffee. And a quick visit to its FB page says that in addition to lunch, the Ragged Edge is now serving breakfast.  Good to know.

https://www.facebook.com/raggededgecoffeehouse

I must admit, however, that I've yet to partake of the menu items, having recently been introduced to the establishment for an entirely different purpose:  a meeting place for poets and poetry reading.

I am not a poet but I attended to listen to a poet friend read from her developing collection.  In fact, anyone interested in listening to poetry,  reading their own poems, or reading the poems of others are welcome on the first Friday of each month. Just follow your nose up to the second floor. 

My first visit was earlier this month. The group was small but I was told that attendance varies month to month.  Things get started (general announcements and the like) at 6:00 p.m. and the program continues until 8:00.  Typically, after the readings, attendees are treated to musical entertainment from a local artist. And then the group adjourns to a neighboring tavern, Gary Owen Irish Pub (at 126 Chambersburg Street). And this is exactly what we did.  What a great time I had that evening!  Look for more on the Irish Pub in an upcoming post.

Till next time . . . Get with Gettysburg!

Georgia Anne